One person wrote online, "Taking deals made for black girls and posing as black to manipulate and boost followers is a big deal. Blackface is a big deal when black people are out here being murdered because of our skin color."

"If a large group of people is telling you that something that you're doing is taking advantage of what is ultimately part of a racist legacy in worldwide and American history, then she should listen," said University of Chicago graduate student Lauren Jackson.

Hallberg said pretending to be black was never her intention and her looks are natural.

"I cannot change the way I was born because the things I've been accused of and the things people are mad about are things that are natural for me, like my hair, my lips, my nose, my face. I've never claimed to be black or biracial or anything else than white," she said.

Last year, Instagram influencer Jaiden Gumbayan received similar criticism about wearing blackface after appearing visibly darker in photographs.